Celebrating Bonalu at AF Hyderabad

Much like their counterparts around the world, the Alliances Françaises in India and Nepal exist at a curious intersection. While their mission is to promote francophone cultures in the subcontinent, they often become windows to local arts and cultures. Alliance Française Hyderabad recently found itself in a similar position when it hosted a thematic art exhibition on Bonalu – one of the oldest surviving Hindu folk festivals of the region and the State festival of Telangana. The exhibition comprised of photos taken by Vidyasagar Lakka which documented the history, customs, rituals, and frenetic energy of the celebration.

Aude-Emeline Loriot Nurbianto (Director, AF Hyderabad |2nd from left) with the artist Vidyasagar Lakka (right) at the inauguration of the exhibition

Bonalu is a vibrant festival dedicated to the Mother Goddess Kali which is celebrated in the twin cities of Hyderadad and Secunderabad amongst other parts of Telangana during the entire month of Ashada (July-August). The celebrations are deeply enmeshed in the ethos of the region and offer a glimpse into the unique culture of Hyderabad. The festival has seen a widespread resurgence in the state of Telangana during recent years. Embracing the motto ‘show, don’t tell’, the artist’s camera became a tool for capturing the vibrant colours and unforgettable feel of the spectacle that unfolds in the streets of the city during the festival.

Discovering some of the artworks on display

Vidyasagar Lakka is an Alumnus of JNTU Fine Arts Photography and Hyderabad Central University. He has a post-graduate diploma in TV Production, and is currently working as a Photo officer at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) where photography is not just a means of documentation and communication but also a tool of research into the plant world. Through this exhibition, Mr. Likka not only documented local cultures and traditions but also celebrated the identity of the people of Telangana. The exhibition was organised in collaboration with the Telangana Tourism Department and kept open to the general public from April 27, 2018 to May 13, 2018.